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JOHN GARDNER, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO SAMUEL PECK AN COMPANY. Letters Patent No. 73,088, dated January 7, 1868.

IMPROVED PICTURE AND CURTAIN-KNOBS.

TO WHOM IT .MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, J OHN GARDNER, of New Haven, in the county of New Haven, and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Picture and Curtain-Knobs, &c.; audIhereby declare the following to-be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention consists of apictnre or curtain-knob,- or a knob for bureaus, drawers, and other like purposes, made of a compound, the ingredients entering. into the composition of which are taken in'abeut the following proportions: I t

Equal parts of gum-shellac and rosin; suflicient saw-dust or fibrous materialgto give the compound the required toughness, and to prevent it from becoming too brittle; and coloring-matter of the shade it is desired to impart to the finished knob. These materials are pulverized or thoroughly and intimately mixed with each other. They are then subjected to a preliminary treating, so as to completely reduce them to a homogeneous mass, which, while in a soft or plastic state, is placed in amould and pressed into the form required. In this mould can also be placed the gilt ornamental pap'e'r with which the head 'of the knob is sometimes decorated, and this paper, being pressed into the material which is=yet soft, becomes thoroughly united with it, and gives a perfect finish to the knob.

A knob made of this material possesses many and great advantages over ordinary knobs.

Picturemails are ordinarily made in two parts, the metal shank which is driven into the wall, and the ornamental knob which is afterwards screwed on. Under my invention, the metal socketin which the head of the nail is secured can be pressed into the material at the time the knob is moulded, where it will be held tightly,

and withontdanger of its becoming subsequently loosened and detached. Or, instead of the employment of a separate metal socket, the nature of the material of which the knob is composed'is' such that'a sock'et may be formed and a' screw-thread cut in the material itself; and, in casethe shank is to berigidlysecured to the knob, it may, in like manner, be pressed into the material at the time the knob is moulded, and will, in such case, be held in position firmly and steadily. This is due not only to the adhesive nature of the composition whenin soft state, but also to its toughness and strength, and comparative freedom from brittleness when cool and hard.

For the same reason I am enabled to form the long shank, which is required in curtain-knobs, whol'lyof this material, the shank and knob properly moulded at one and the same time, and in one continuous piece. A I screw, or other suitable means for holding the knob thus formed to the wall or other 'place to which it is to b attached, may be pressed into the mass at the same time that the knob is moulded. p

It will be understood,"of course, that the proportions of' the substances above named as entering intp the composition of the knobs may be considerably varied. More or less'saw-dust, or its equivalent, may be added, so as to impart the proper t oughnessand tenacity to the material, and the quantity of coloring-matter may be varied at the will of the workman.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated more fully the mannerin which the knob may be formed. Figure l-is an elevation, and I v 1' 4 Figure 2 is a top view of a curtain-knob in which the shank'and head are formed in one piece. In the lower'.

end of the shank a screw is pressed, by means of which the knob can be held in any desired position;

Figure 4 is a vertical central section through a knob, having a composition headcombined with a brass or other suitable metallic shank. The upper end of the shank has ascrew-thread, which engages with a similar thread cut in the'motcrial of which the head is composed.

Instead of cutting the thread in the material, as shown in the figurejust referred to. a metal socket with a female screw may be pressed into the head, as represented in'Figure 3.

Figure 6 represents a vertical section of a knob adapted to be used onbureaus, drawers, lite. The head is so moulded as to have a hole formed in it centrally, through which is passed the screw by means of which it is secured in position.

Figure 5 represents a picture-knob in. which the metaliscrew-shank is pressed into the composition head.- It will be, of course,,understood that the nail or metal shank'of the picture-knob can be made detachable. it

desired, or to screw into the head, so that the nail may be first driven into the wall, and the knob then screwed on it. 1

Having now described my inventien, and the manner in which the same is or may be carried into effect, what]: claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

As a. new article of manufacture, a picture or curtain-knob, or knob for like purposes, made of the material and in the manner substantially as herein specified.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, before two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN GARDNER.

Witnesses:

H. T. BLAKE, I. W. JOHNSON. 

